Have you ever wondered what goes into creating one of our art challenges? It’s a journey filled with inspiration, planning, and a little bit of creative magic! Today, I want to take you behind the scenes of our recent, much-loved Circus Art Challenge and share exactly how it all came together.

The idea for a circus theme sparked from wanting something universally fun, visually rich, and packed with diverse elements that could truly stretch artistic skills. But how do you take a grand concept like the circus and break it down into digestible, engaging daily lessons? That’s where the planning truly began!

Day by Day: Deconstructing the Circus

My first step was to brainstorm all the iconic elements of a circus: the tent, the animals, the performers, the vibrant colors, the movement! I then thought about how to divide these into manageable, skill-building chunks over five days. This involved asking questions like:

• What core drawing or painting skills could each element teach?
• How could each day build upon the previous one?
• What would keep it exciting and fresh for participants?

We decided to dedicate each day to a distinct aspect – perhaps a day for the iconic tent, another for a playful animal, a day for a charismatic performer, and so on. This phased approach allows participants to truly immerse themselves in one skill or subject before moving on.

The Hunt for Inspiration: Reference Images are Key!

Once I had a rough outline for each day, the next crucial step was diving into research. As artists, we’re constantly observing and learning from the world around us, and digital resources are a treasure trove! I spent hours looking online for reference images:

• Different styles of circus tents from around the world.
• Photographs of animals in various poses.
• Costumes and dynamic movements of circus performers.
• Inspiration for color palettes and lighting that capture the circus atmosphere.

These images weren’t for copying, but for understanding shapes, textures, lighting, and anatomy. They became the visual dictionary from which I could draw inspiration and distill down the essential elements to teach.

Bringing It to Life: Creating the Challenge

With the framework and inspiration in place, it was time to get to work! This is where the magic happens – translating ideas and research into actual art lessons. I began creating the challenge myself, working through each day’s project to identify the clearest, most effective way to teach the intended skills.

This involved:

• Breaking down complex shapes: How can a three-ring circus tent be simplified into basic forms?
• Simplifying techniques: What’s the easiest way to teach shading for a performer’s costume?
• Ensuring accessibility: How can I make sure these lessons are engaging for beginners while still offering depth for more experienced artists?

Every stroke, every color choice, and every instruction was carefully considered to ensure it was effective and inspiring.

Then it was time to record and edit!

Skills, Skills, Skills!

A core philosophy at Let’s Artit! is that art is a skill that can be learned, not just an innate talent. So, throughout the creation of the Circus Art Challenge, I made sure to weave in fundamental skills that are applicable far beyond this specific theme. We focused on:

• Observation skills: Truly seeing what you’re drawing.
• Breaking down complex forms: Simplifying subjects into basic shapes.
• Color mixing and theory: Understanding how colors interact.
• Perspective and depth: Creating the illusion of space.
• Using different mediums: Exploring various tools and materials.

The goal was for participants to not just copy a picture, but to understand the why behind each step, building a foundation they could then apply to any other artwork they create.

Seeing all your wonderful circus creations and reading your heartwarming feedback (especially from those who didn’t think they were “artistic”!) made all the behind-the-scenes work incredibly worthwhile. It truly reinforces our mission to show everyone that they, too, can learn to draw and paint and find immense joy in the process.

Waitlist for our art courses: We’re opening the doors soon for our signature art courses for children and teens! If you’d love your child to be part of a program that builds skills, sparks creativity, and grows confidence—this is your chance. We only open enrollment twice a year. Want to be first in line when doors open? Join the waitlist and be the first to know!, get on our waitlist.